Extra Police Called To Halt Paris Bombs

February 7, 1986

PARIS — Hundreds of police patrolled airports, train stations, museums and national landmarks Thursday in a bid to stop a wave of bombings that injured 20 people and prompted tourists to consider curtailing Paris vacations.

President Francois Mitterrand called an emergency session of his key Cabinet ministers, apparently for discussions on the bombing wave. The officials, including Prime Minister Laurent Fabius, Interior Minister Pierre Joxe, Foreign Minister Roland Dumas and Defense Minister Paul Quiles, declined comment as they left the session.

Joxe dispatched an estimated 2,500 police officers at large train stations and at Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports.

Security was also tightened at landmarks and museums in the French capital. Police searched trains in Paris stations for suspicious packages before passengers were allowed to board. Some luggage was also inspected.

A large contingent of police was also guarding the Sorbonne university, where representatives of 64 nations, including 10 heads of state, were holding a conference on acid rain and drought.

Fabius said security was increased at points of departure for Parisians takng winter vacations. February is a popular vacation month because of school holidays.

Fabius said police investigators believe Arab terrorists may be behind three bomb explosions this week, as well as the planting of a bomb on the Eiffel Tower that was safely defused.

``In the investigations there are elements that make us think of the Middle East but it is not certain,`` Fabius said on French radio.